Printing plate controlled feed means



June 29, 1948. 'H. P. ELLIOTT v PRINTING PLATE CONTROLLED FEED MEANS 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 I Filed Sept. 25, 1945 H. P. ELLIOTT PRINTING'PLATE CONTROLLED FEED MEANS June 29, 1948,

Filed Sept. 25, ,1945

5 Sheets-Sheet 2 r/ctEEttEttEtEl.

June 29, 1948. v H. P. ELLIOTT 2,444,137

PRINTING PLATE- CONTROLLED IE'EED MEANS Filed sept. 25, 1945 I) 5 SheetsPSheet 3 .n my? 22 m0 //2/ f I L i June 29, 1948. H. P. ELLIOTT v PRINTING PL/ATE QONTBOLLED FEED MEANS 5 Sheets-Sheet .4

ABRAEIVE Jrjuere 201*.

Patented June 29, 1948 hurrah STATES PATENT OFFICE PRINTING PLATE CO Ihis invention relates to improvements in printing machines of the general type which print from printing devices on which the data to be printed is carried, and in which the printing devices are moved to a printing position in a predetermined sequence for coaction with a printing mechanism. More particularly, the invention provides such a machine having provision for printing the data contained on one or a series of the printing devices as single items of a schedule or the like which may contain several items varying as to the number of lines of printing required for the items. For example it may be desired to print a schedule comprising seven items requiring respectively twelve, two, three, eighteen, six, two and fifteen lines of printing. Inasmuch as each printing device is required to have a predetermined limited size, each is limited as to the number of lines of printable data it can carry, five lines of regular size printing being a practical maximum. Hence, it will be obvious that the items in the foregoing example which have twelve, eighteen, six and fifteen lines respectively will require three, four, two and three printing devices respectively to carry the required data, while the other items each may be printed from a single printing device. The invention provides a machine which prints in predetermined spaced succession items or paragraphs which may be complete on individual printing devices, and which prints multi-line items or paragraphs, the data for which maybe on twoor several printing devices,

It is an object of the invention to greatly extend the field for use of printing machines of the mentioned general type which print from a succession of printing devices on which the data to be printed is carried. The invention makes it possible and practical to print withsuch a machine data of any description in interspersed single and multi-line items or paragraphs which may be suitably spaced, onefrom another, on a card, a sheet or a continuous web.

Another object is to provide such a printin machine having provision for feeding the sheet, or other element being printed upon, one line space or a selected plurality of line spaces as determined by the condition of the printing device which at any time is in the pirnting position.

A further object is to provide in sucha printing machine a relation of printing device feed to the sheet feed which is selectively responsive to indications on the printing devices, determining the number of single line spaces of advance NTROLLED FEED ANS Harmon P. Elliott, Watertown, Mass.

Application September 25, 1945, Serial No. 618,481

16 Claims. (01. 101-58) of the sheet in accordance with the number of lines of data contained on the printing devices arriving at the printing position.

It is, moreover, my purpose and object generally to improve upon prior printing machines and more especially such machines which print from a succession of data-bearing printing devices.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure l is a top plan view of the major portion of a printing machine embodying features of the invention, the opposite end portions of the machine being broken away;

Figure 2 is an end elevation of the machine of Figure 1, looking from the left in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a front elevation, on a larger scale, of the upper portion of the machine of Figures 1 and 2, with the sheet feeding means omitted;

Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view on line 4-4 of Figure 3but omitting gear I48 and. its bear- 1% Figure 5 is a detail cross-sectional view on line 5-5 of Figure 1, on alarger scale;

Figure 6 is a detail cross-sectional view through the sliding-pin selector mechanism;

Figure 7 is a detail cross-sectional view looking at the right hand end of the mechanism of Figure 6;

Figure 8 is a detail elevation of the pin-re-setting mechanism;

Figure 9 is an elevation looking from the right at the mechanism of Figure 8;

Figure 10 is an enlarged cross-sectional detail on line l0-Hl of Figure 5;

Figure 11 is a face View of a printing device in the form of a stencil, illustrative of printing devices suitable for use inmy disclosed machine;

Figure 12 is a wiring diagram of the electrical control circuit; and 1 Figure 13 is a face view of a printed insurance schedule having a succession of items of varying line content uniformly spaced apart, as may be accomplished according to my invention.

Referring to the drawings, the machine as represented has a frame including a pair of end uprights Ill between whose upper ends extends the generally horizontal table [2 which supports a usual type of parallel grooved rails M which together constitute a track along which the printing devices It, herein shown' as stencils, are adapted to be moved. A stack of the stencils is held in a receptacle I8 above the right hand end of the track, and each stencil, as it becomes the lowermost one in the stack, is in position to be engaged by a pusher 29 which is reciprocable lengthwise of the track, in a well known manner, to move successive lowermost stencils out of the stack and along the rails I l. Preceding stencils are pushed by succeeding ones, and each ultimately arrives at a printin position, indicated generally at 22, and thence moves to the left hand end of the track and drops into a suitable receptacle (not-shown).

The pusher'ill is reciprocated in a usual manner by a link 24 which has one end pivotally connected to the pusher and its other end pivotally connected to one arm 28 of a bell-crank lever whose other arm 28 engages inthe cam slot 38 of a cam plate 32. The bell-crank lever is mounted on the fixed pivot 34 at-theunder-side of table l2, and the cam plate 32 is fixedon a pivot-shaft 38 at the upper yoke-endof-a'iixed armor strut 38. The pivot-shaft 86 is rocked by customary means not necessary to describe, thereby to effect reciprocating movements of the pusher. v I

The table [2 "has "anopemng 48 theretlir'ough at the printing position, across'whichthe rails extend, anda'pIatn l'Zand an impression r'oll arcdaetst tneprinting positionto' effect a printin'grrcm each' stencll' asit rests in the printing position. Orfif "a particuiarstencnhap ens to be a blank one, ani'dle"printing"operation may bel'efic'ted, a's'will later appear.

The platen m' ispivoted at 43' and moved into and out of dact'ing .1 "e1ati(' n 'tdthe stencil and the impression roll by'acain'dt "which is secured to the pivot sha'f-t '35. "The impression roll'fl i is carried' between and at the ends of arms i8 on tl'ie'iyo'ke 'nieniber 58 -which has a fixed "pivot at 52 "she"- wnich has thedepending arm 58 whose lowerend'is'adiustably'connected at 55 to the actuating Iever'SB forthepivot-shaft 38. Hence, movements or the "actuating lever 53, rock the pivot-shaft 36 and thereby move the yoke membr eoabcut its pivot52 tdswing the impression roll into anid outof 'engagemntwith a stencil at the"printin'g"position. Also, rocking of the pivot-shaft reiprocates pusherfi8" and actuates platn42," as'pr'e'viously' explained.

"My' rsent 'invnecnprvides "means 'for' associating as a single printed item or paragraph data"which'rnay'becarrid on two or mi esuc cessive .stencils,. and for providing a "uniform spacing"bfsuecessive printditems orparagr'aphs some of which may ha've' only aone"or' 'two 'Iine content sn'd" others of may'have 'five, ten ormore lines of content. It is 'desirableto'h'ave single-line spacing of the content of each' item cr'paragraph ands doiible line spacingof sucreserve items or paragraphs.

Iattain this"desira'ble and important result by a selective feed of the sheet oro'ther'e'lenient which isbm fiiitd' upon; means being providdfwhich selectively feedsthe sheet oneftwo, three, four or fiVe'fsih'gle line; spaces depending iifion the number -of ,lines' of" data contained on the stencil which at any time is in the printing position.

i'ne "machine" herein represented is designed for printingschedulesofa sortused' by insurancetompames; and such a schedule isrepresent'd in part in 'Figi 13. However; it will be obvious that"data"of any description which can becar'ri'a on 's'ten'cils'or comparable printing devices'iiiay be printed'onindividual sh'eetsor'ca'rds 'or" on continuous webs in accordance with the 'mtefinen.

Referring-to Fig. the"'slieets to be printed 'aiemaiiuany inserted to printing positionfrom 4 in front of the machine, a sheet 68 being shown in Fig. 5 with its inner portion engaged between the feed rolls 62, 64 and with its forward edge against a guide 68 which is adjustable at the front of the table l2. The lower feed roll 54 is carried at the inner end of a lever 68 which is pivoted at N! on a bracket 12 depending from the table. The outer-arm of this lever hasa pin-inslot'connection at 14 to link 78 which'is pivoted at H at the under side of table i2. The lower end of link 78 is connected through link 18 to one arm of a bell-crank lever 88 which is pivoted at-8l on-bracket 82 and whose other arm is connected through rod 84 to a treadle 86. A spring 81 yieldingly urges the lever 68 to keep feed roll 64 pressed against roll 62 or against a sheet engaged between them.

Prior to insertion of a sheet 68, treadle 86 is depressed to retract feed roll 64 so that the sheet may be freely inserted between the rolls and adjustedtobring itsouter edge against theguide 66, the latter having been suitably adjusted -'for a 1 desired placement of the printing relative to the inner-edge of thesheet 88. The-treadle is then released and roll 64 moves back into'feedingengagement with the sheet.

The amount the sheet 88' will befed following eachprinting 'coaction of platen"42,- impression roll '44 and thestencil 16 which is in printing position, depends upon'thenumber'of lines of data'that'is carried on-that particular-stencil. According to the invention, the margin of each stencil IB'has-a notch 88 therein (Fig. 11) and the'position of the notch on anyiparticularstencil'i-s' indicative of the'number oflines of' data which is contained on'that stencil-or indicative of a'blank stencil-suitablemerely as a. spacer. In the disclosed embodiment, each stencil has five notch positions, indicated respectively in Fig. 11'at88,89,'90, 9| and-92. Howeven'the stencil of Fig. 11 has a notch cut-therein only'at the position 88'because the stencil'has five'lines of data thereon. A blank stenciL'used for a-spacer, will have its notch at the position 92-whereas a stencil having asingle line of data on it would have its notch at the position 9 I. Two; three and four line stencils would be 'notchedrespectively at positions'sn, 89 and 88, assuming thateach is a'complete item which is to be spaced from the next succeeding line to be printed. If a stencil has only part of an item which must becompleted fromone or more succeeding stencils, with no spacing of the matter on the'respective stencils, the first five lines of the itemwill be. on the first'stencil and it will be notched at 88 for a'fiveline'advan'ce ofthe sheet following'a'printing from -this stencil. The'next succeeding stencil,

bearing another portionof the item, 'will follow directly so that a printing from 'itwill constitute a continuation of the'first=printed matter, "without'a space left between. On the'oth'er hand; if a'five-line stencil has acompleteitem thereon so that its printed matter should be spac'ed'from a'next succeeding printing, its notchwill' be at 88,

but a blankspacer stenciL-withnot'ch at'92,-will follow'to provide thespacing of items. 'Afourline stencil is not'ch'edat 88 the sameas' afivel'ine' stencil, so that-a five-line advance of the "with aresilient actuating arm fi carrying a roller 91 at its free end. Each switch is carried on a sheet metal bracket 98 which conveniently may be secured to the forward one of the track rails I4. A lever I08 is pivoted intermediate its ends at I02 on each bracket 98 with one arm of the lever extending inward over the forward rail of the track andwith its other arm extending under the roller 91 of a switch actuating arm 98. Preferably the end of the outer arm is equipped with a roller I04. The rail I4 has a hole I00 under each inwardly projecting arm of the levers I00, and each lever I00 has a .pin I08 at its inner end depressible into a hole I06 in the track by counter-clockwise rocking of the lever I00. A stencil I9 at the printing position 22 will have its notch registerin with some one of the holes I05, and depression of a lever pin I08 into that hole results in the pin continuing downward in the notch thereby permitting a rocking of that particular lever I00 sufficiently to move its outer endenough to effect closing of the associated switch 94. The other four depressed pins I08 encounter solid marginal parts of the stencil and rocking of their levers I00 is arrested before they will have effected a closing actuation of their associated switches 94.

Rocking of the individual levers I00 to depress the pins I00 into the rail holes I99 is occasioned each time the impression roll 44 moves to printing position. To this end, the arms 48 which carry the impression r011 have secured thereto at I I0 a bracket including a bar portion I I2 which extends in front of the roll 44 and from end to end thereof. Five tubes II 4 are mounted on the bar I I2 and each tube has a yieldable .pin I I0 projecting out of its lower end in position to engage the inner end of a lever I90 each time the impression roll 44 moves to printing position.

Engagement of a pin I I0 with a lever I00 rocks the lever, but if the lever pin. I09 engages a solid margin of stencil, the pin I I6 can yield against its backing spring I I8 as best seen in the detail showing of Fig. 10.

Each of the switches 94 controls an electric circuit to one of the five solenoids I20 which are mounted in a suitable casing I2I above the table I2 as seen in Figs. 3 and 4, and as indicated in the circuit diagram of Fig. 12. Also they are shown in Fig. 1 where the top of casing I2I is omitted. The armature of each solenoid is connected to one of the five depending arms I22, I24, I26, I20 and I30, each of which is pivotally suspended from a rod I32 which is supported in brackets I34. When a solenoid I20 is energized by closing of its control switch 94, the armature of the solenoid draws the lower end of the depending arm to which it is connected to the right as viewed in Fig. 3, for a purpose to be described, and a spring I30 is connected to each depending arm for returning the arms following ole-energization of the associated solenoid I20.

A'disk I38 is fixed to the short shaft I40 which is rotatably mounted in the bearings I42, I44 on a fixed bar I46 extending in spaced general parallelism with table I2. A spur gear I48 is fixed to the left hand end of shaft I40, as viewed in Fig, 3, and meshes with a spur gear I59 on the shaft I52 of the feed roll 02. Hence, any rotation of disk I38 effects a sheet-feeding rotation of the feed roll 62.

Disk I38 has a. multiplicity of pins I54 extending loosely therethrough all around its margin and the lower end of each depending arm I22, I24, I20, I28 and I30 stands opposite one of the pins I54, as best seen in Figs. 3 and 4. Referring to Fig. 3, the pins project beyond both faces of the disk 6 and are headed at their nds sotliat theirsll di'ng movements are limited."

Referring now to Figs. 6 and 7, a ratchet wheel I56 is fixed to shaft I40 back of disk I30, and a pawl I58 is carried on a member I90 which is freely rotatable onshaft I40. A spring yieldably urges the pawlinto engagement with the teeth of ratchet' wheel I55 so that, in Fig. '1, clockwise movements of the pawl-carrying member I effects clockwise rotation of disk I33 and shaft I40, and the pawl I58 rides idly over the ratchet teeth Ulp-on counter-clockwise movement of member I00. A second pawl I04, at the opposite side of the ratchet wheel, prevents any counter-clockwise movement of disk I49.

The member I80 which carriesthe actuating pawl I58 has the general shape as best seen in Fig. 7, with a head IBI at its end, which mounts the slidable re-setting pin I82. Pin I82 extends through the head I8 I, with a stop pin I94 limiting its movement in direction away from disk I38, and with a spring I80 engaging the stop pin I94 and yieldingly maintaining the re-setting pin I82 in its position of Fig. 6. The head IGI has the portion I93 (Fig. 6) projecting toward disk I38 be yond the adjacent end of the re-setting pin in the latters position of Fig. 6, constituting a surface which, upon swinging of member I80, engages whichever pin I54 of the disk I98 may have been pushed through the disk by the selector mechanism.

Referring now to Figs. 1 and 4, the member I00 is represented in Fig. 4 by dotted lines behind the disk I38, and a link I68 (Figs. 1 and 4) is connected at one end to member I80 and at its other end to the lower arm of a lever I10 pivoted at I12 on bracket I14 reaching out from a fixed support I18. The upper arm of lever I10 is connected to one end of a link I18 Whose opposite end portion is slotted at I89 for reception of a pin I82 carried at the end of an arm I84 fixed at one end of shaft I86, which latter is rotatably supported in bearings I88 on the fixed support I10. A coil spring I90 has one end connected to the upper arm of lever I10 and its other end engaging pin I82 for yieldingly holding the pin at one end of slot I80 as seen in Fig. 4. The opposite end of shaft I88 has fixed thereon a pin-carrying arm I92 Whose pin I94 engages in the slot I96 at one end of a link I98. The other end of link I98 is pivotally mounted at 200 on a bracket 202 carried on the yoke member 50. A coil spring 204 is anchored at one end at bracket 202 and has its other end engaging pin I94 to hold it yieldingly at one end of slot I96 as in Fig. 4.

Hence, each time yoke 50 moves to bring im pression roll 44 into printing position, link I98 is carried with it, and shaft I86 is rotated counterclockwise, in Fig. 4, the spring 204 being strong enough to hold pin I94 against movement in its slot I95, so that arm I92 is rocked to rotate shaft I86. Rotation of shaft I86, through arm I84 and its pin-in-slot connection to link I18, causes swinging of lever I10 clockwise, as viewed in Fig. 4, causing movement of link I08 to the left, and counter-clockwise swinging of member I60 on shaft I40. Assuming that the stencil which is in printing position is like that of Fig. 11, having five lines of data and a notch at the position 88, a movement of the impression roll 44 to printing position will result in depression of the switchactuating lever I00 which is associated with the notch position 88, and that lever pin I 08 will be depresse'dinto the notch 88, permitting a switch-closing switch of the lever I00. In Fig. 1, the particular arrange-7 lever .IOzD and; switch:94ithusactuated are those 'at the extreme left in the groupro'fz'five. 'I'he;pins I108 :of .the other :four levers I00, when depressed by the same movement .of yoke '50, engage solid portions .of 1 the .margin of the. stencil and their levers IBILarea-rrestedbefore theymove switchclosing .zamounts. .Hence, -:only the :"switch .94 farthest .to;the- "left in-.Fig. .1 isxclosed anaamircuitis closed-only throughzthe; solenoid I whose .armature is-nconnected tothezdepending arm I-.3Il (Fig. 4) Thisarrnconsequently iszdrawntoward .disk I38,-and .the:pin I54 ropposite thelower end of :arm 1:30 .is ipressedrrearward through the disk so that it has substantial zprojection. at 'the rear side. As previously explained, the member 160 willJhave been swung counter-.clockwisei-naFig. 4 .to-aposition atat'he left of.the series of fiveapins I54 which stand oppositeth depending arms. I 22, .I24, I26, I28, and I30.

'As yoke moves back to the left.in.Fig.;4,1.after a printing, member I60, through; link IE8, is swung in clockwise.directionabout shaft I40 until its headportionI63 (Fig.fi) engages thepin I54 which has been pushed rearward by depending arm I30. The pin -I5'4 stops member lfillbut the return movement of yoke SU-continues, with the pins 182, I 94 yielding along their-slots I88, I96 intheir respective links I18 and I98. The mechanism is-now set for the maximum or. five-line feed of the sheet as the yoke 50* next moves to carry the impression roll 44 to printing position,:the pawl #I 58 .being engaged'withnthe. teeth. of .ratchet wheel I56 so. that the ratchet'i wheel: and-shaft Mil will 'be rotated counter-clockwise as .viewed in Fig. and. clockwise-as vieWedLintFig. 7, .until the head I6I of member: t6ilstrikesi'the. fixedstop pin'6 (Fig. 7). :Asviewed in Fig: 7,. themember i=6 ll always moves clockwise into .engagementcwith pin. 206 during each=printing movement ofiyoke 5fliand -impression roll 44. iI-Iowever,. the:amount of J its clockwise movement 1 to this .stop position depends upon which of the depending; arms I22 I24,.|26,: I28 or 1.30 has actedtopush apin': I 54:.of disk= I 3-8 rearward. .:Forexample; if: .thepin opposite depending. armil 2 2 (Fig. .4) l is the: oneithat is pushedrrearward, themember: 160-. will. move. only into. engagement with: that pin on'a 'returnamcve- 'ment'of yoke 5fl. and the subsequent ratchet-rotai'ward'todts startingior inactive position. This is accomplishedzby the; re-setting pin: I62; in mem ber I EBzwhiclrxat.thatitime, :wiilrbe 'aoppo'sitez'the active pin'ltmoftdisk I38. "IiThe return movement of ryoke 59, releases the switch-actuating lever .IzBG .so that its pin 1588 .is .-retr.acted, :-switch :94 opened. and depending. arm t l3tereturnedz1by its spring I66 to"; normal position. Hence .when the yoke :50 1 is attrest; in itslearmost: nonep'rinting "positionuof .Fig. 5;.ail-of theaswit'chesc94 areopen. .However; :a similarzswit-ch 268; is; mounted-a under table i2 .onithe. fixed :bracket 2i't,;an:da carnvelementxZ i2 is carried on. the cam rplate 32 "which :actuates theestencil pusher-2U. ;As;;th'e cam-plate '32. moves upward-to effect? advance.:of.:a: different stencil :to: thezprinting .:position; .2 2,-.the:casnwele- :mum offive lines of regular-size type.

- pivot. inserted b'etween thefee'd rolls :62, B4 and-its I outer. edge is brought .xagainst the: guide 66 to properly. position it: for an initial printing,.:after which" the feed, rolls-641 is: moved back, so that the .inner portion of sheet; 60 is; gripped between the .two feed rol1s62,';64. Assuming asuccession of stencils I6 inzthetrack rails: I4, ewithxoneat the .printing.;position..22.:the..pla-ten .421z3JId impres- .cuit through a solenoid 3214 (Figs. .azaand 9) whose' armature is connected: toza' link? 2-I. 6-whl-ch, in turn, ;is .connectedito :one 21-8 of :a bellcrank lever pivoteduatlZIl. The=rotherzarmg222 of -the :bellecrank extendsxito a position. opposite theeendofgre-settingpin I62, so that; asthe armature- .of. solenoid .1214 isdrawn {inward-upon energizing .ofthe solenoid therbel-l-ecrankz is.--roeke.d in direction to .pushvre-setting.; pi-nd 62::t-o the left.- in Fig. 8. This causes the: resetting pin to thrust thenopposit-e pin I54-ofadisk'i38 t0' they1eft3t0 a re-set position. .Upon :de-enerizing .of --,solenoid 2 M, a spring. 224 returns the-.bellecrankto its;- inactive position of. Fig.-;83where' it may rest against .a suitable .stop. 22-6.

A manual switch 2-2B-is-shown in. Fig. 3,: and in the .diagramyof'. Fig. 12, for, cnttingaoutthe auto- .:cession: of items of varying l-ine-numbercontent.

.withuniform, spacingof the successive items. The invention makes it possible to print continuing multi-line items .or;-paragraphs withsing-le- :linespacing, and to-print a succession ofitems orparagraphs of varying. line-number content, with each itemor paragraph equally spaced from the next preceding and-nextsucceed-ing.item or paragraph.

While theillustrated embodimentjof' the invention provides forone, two,- three, four and five line feed-advances of-the-sheet SD or-otherelement being printed upon, this hascbeendetermined only by the limited size of: the stencils-employed which conveniently can receive-a maxi- Obvious- 1y, a larger size of stencil could. receive more. lines :of data thereon, in which case .a corresponding larger number of notch-positions would begpro vided on the stencils, with anequal number of pin-actuators and control switches 94.

With the five-notch-position stencils as shown, if it'is desired to -provide aspace between the printed-matter of 'tWo: successive five line stencils, this may be done conveniently and simply b inserting a blank stencil between them having anotch-at the position 92' (Fig-11) Briefly-summarizing the operation of the .disclosed vmachine, the .operator may .fir-s't close switch..228 to condition theelectricalsystem for automatic operation. Treadle 86 is then depressed to spread feed roll 64 away from feed roll -The pin-in-slot connection at between the roll-carrying lever fi8 and pivoted link 76' is-such that the treadle remains depressed until pressure is applied to the treadle at the opposite side of its A sheet 50 L (Figsfi 'S-and i 1-3) 7 may now be rmenti2|2 closesthe switchiiidto-completexa cir- :15 .sionrolh: move into aprinting-ccactionwith the impression roll 44 to printing position, the yield- I able pins IIE engage the levers I and all five of them are rocked to depress their pins I08 into the holes I06 in the forward rail I4. Whichever lever pin I08 finds a not-ch in the stencil margin continues downward and that lever I00 is rocked suficiently to cause closing actuation of its associated switch 94. The other four lever pins I08 strike solid portions of stencil margin and are arrested before their levers I00 rock sufficiently to close their switches 94. The switch 94 which has been actuated closes a circuit to the proper one of the solenoids I20 so that the proper depending arm I22, I24, I20, I28 or I30 is actuated to push a pin I54 of disk I38 rearward.

As the yoke 50 moves back from printing position, the circuit to the particular solenoid I20 is opened and member I60 is swung clockwise (Fig. 4) until its head portion I63 (Fig. 6) strikes the particular pin I54 which has been pushed through disk I 38. Continued backward movement of yoke 50 ultimately causes closing of switch 208 and energization of solenoid 2I4 which acts to actuate re-setting pin I62 of member I60 thereby to return the rearwardly pushed pin I54 to its original position. Also, as yoke 50 moves back from printing position, pusher 20 is actuated to ad- Vance a new stencil to the printing position 22..

When yoke 50 again moves forward to bring impression roll 44 to printing position, the pawl I 58 on member I60 rotates ratchet wheel I56 and shaft I40 counter-clockwise (Fig. 4) until member I60 comes against the fixed stop 206., The amount of this rotation of the ratchet wheel I56 and shaft I40 depends upon which pin I54 stopped the member I00, and the rotation of shaft I40, through the gears I48, I50 effects corresponding but opposite sheet-feeding rotation of the feed-roll 62, to advance sheet'60 one, two, three, four or five line spaces depending upon the number of lines of data which was contained on the stencil last printed from.

As sheet 00 is advanced the proper amount during movement of yoke 50 toward printing position, the location of the notch in the new stencil at the printing position will result in closing of the proper switch 94 and the cycle as explained is repeated.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a printing machine, means for moving uniformly-dimensioned data-bearing printing devices in succession to a printing position, printing mechanism for coacting with a printing device at the printing position thereby to effect a printing on a sheet element from the printing device, each said printing device having at one of a plurality of indicating locations thereon, an indication indicative of the number of units of advance of the sheet element which should follow a printing from that printing device, means for intermittent feed of a sheet element to be printed upon at the printing position, and means responsive to said indication on the printing device in the printing position for setting said feeding means for feeding said sheet element one predetermined number of units of advance when said indication is at one of said indicating locations and for feeding said sheet element a different predetermined number of units of advance when said indication is at another of said indicating locations.

2. In a printing machine, printing mechanism,

and means. for moving uniformly-dimensioned single-line units of advance of the sheetwhen data-bearing printing devices in succession into coacting relation to the printing mechanism thereby to effect successive printings on a sheet element from successive printing devices, each said printing device having, at one of a plurality of indicating locations thereon, an indication indicative of a predetermined numberof units of advance of the sheet element which should follow a printing from that printing device, and means, operative after a printing operation and prior to each succeeding operation of the printing mechanism, for feeding the sheet element varying amounts depending upon which of said plurality of indicating locations has a said indication thereat on'the printing device last printed from. r r

3. In a printing machine, printing mechanism, and means for moving data-bearing printing devices in succession into coacting relation to the printing mechanism thereby to effect successive printings on a sheet element from successive printing devices, all of said printing devices having uniform dimensions, and each printing device having, at one of a plurality of indicating locations thereon, an indication indicative of a predetermined number of units of advance of the sheet element which should follow a printing from that printing device, means for advancing the sheet element following a printing thereon from a'printing device, and means responsive to the indication on each printing device arriving in succession at the printing mechanism for varying the amount of theadvances of the sheet element with variation of the locations of the indications among said plurality of indicating locations on each of the succession of printing devices. I r

4. In a printingmachine, printing mechanism, and means for movingr-data-bearing printing devices in succession intocoacting relation to the printing mechanism thereby'to effect successive printings one. sheet element from successive printing devices, means for advancing the sheet element any of a predetermined number of single-line units of advance following a printing thereon from a printing device,and means selectively positioned on each printing device indicative, by its'position on the device, of the number of units of advance of thesheet element which should follow a printing from thatprinting device, said indication-on the printing device last printed from coacting with said sheet element advancing means to determine the number of units of advance whichvn'll precede a next succeeding printing.

5'. In a printing machine, printing mechanism, and means for moving uniformly-dimensioned data-bearing printing devices in succession into coacting relation to the printing mechanism thereby to efiect successive printings on a sheet element from successive printing devices, means for advancing the sheet element following each printing thereon" from a printing device, there being means on each printing device indicative by its position on the printing device of the number of single-line units of advance of the sheet. element which should follow a printing from that printing device, and selector means responsive to a said indicating means of a printing device and operative to effect one singleline unit of advance of the sheet when the indicating means is atone position on the printing device last printed from and to efiect a plura ity I 1 said indicating means Eat a different position on the printing device last printed from.

6'. In a printing machine; printing mechanism; andmeans for moving uniformly dimensioned data-bearing printing devices in succession into coa'cting relation to the printing mechanism thereby'to efiectsuccessive printings on a sheet element from successive printing devices, means for advancing the sheet element following each printing thereon from a printing device, each said'printing device having an indi'cation thereon indicative of thenumber of single-line units of advance of the sheet element which shouldfollow aprinting from that printing device, and means responsive to the indication onaprinting device at the printing mechanism for selectively effecting one single-line unit' of" advance of the sheet element when said indication is atone position on the printing device and anyof t'wo; three; four and five single-line unit advances of'thei sheet element when said indication is respectively at a second, third, fourth and fifth position on theprinting device.

7. In a printing machine, means iormov-ing data-bearing printingdevices insuccession to a printing position, printing mechanismope'rableat the printing position for effecting successiveprintings from different printing devices, means for feeding a sheet element which'isto be printed upon and for advancing the 'sheetelement select ivelyone; two and multi line'units' of' advance following-each of successive printing operations of the printing mechanism, the individuals ofsaid succession-of printing device's'bei-ng uniform in size and each printing device having indicating means thereon at one of a plurality'of'indicatingpositions indicative of the numbero'iline units off advance of the sheet elementwhich should follow aprinting from that printing'devic'e, said' feeding means coacting-iwith the said' 'ihdicating means onthe printing device in the priritingpositicn' to provide any of a one'-'-unit, tw'o unitand multi unit advance of the sheet element-depending upon the position of the'indicating means on-said printing device in the printing position.

8 In a printing machine;- means for moving data-hearing printing devices in succession to a printing position, printing niechanismoperable at the printing position fo'r eflecti'ng successive printings from different printing device's; means for feeding a sheet element whic is' tobe printed upon and-for advancing-the sheet lernenii's eie'c tively one, two and more singleqine units oi aw vance prior to successive"difierent ptinting oper ations of the printing mechanis'i r'i and means're sponsive to the printing devic i--'=the prii 1ting position for setting the feeding 'means fon ad vancing' the sheet element 'any of zoneg two and more single-line units of advance prior.- to -l a printing from the next succeeding printing; de-'* vice arriving at the printing-position;

9; In a printing machine havingtmeans for advancing data-bearing printing devices-in suoces sion to a printing-position; and printing-mechanism for coacting with-a printingsdevice atthe printing position to effect a printing (therefrom, means 'for advancinga sheet element which is to be. printed upon a varying number of "units'of' advance prior to each printingbythe printing mechanism, each of" the succession" of' printing devices ?being' uniform in size; and"eachhaving'- indicatingi means at one of 'a'series' 'ofin'dicating positions-thereon, and means coactin'g with a' saidindi'cating. means on-th'e printing device"at the printing position for selecting-the number of-units of each advance of the sheet element'according to the locationof' the said indicating means on the succession of uniform printing devices.-

1'0. In a printing machinehaving means for advancing data-bearing printing devices in succession to a printing position, and printing mechanism for coasting with a printing device at the printing position to effect a printing therefrom, means for advancing asheet element which is to be printed-upon a varying number of units ofa'd- Vance prior to each printing by the printing mechanism, said means comprising selector mechanism at the printing position, including a pluralityof selector elements depressible against a printing device in the printing position, means for depressing all of said select-or elements in'response toeach printing operation of the printing mechanism, each'said printing device having an opening therein indicative by its postion on the printing device of the number of lines of data-onthe' printingdevice, and a said opening-in each printing device arriving at'the printing position'being in register with one of said=depressibleseleotor elements whereby that selector elementis depressed into said opening while the other selector elements are arrested by solid portions of the printing device, and means responsive to depressionofa said selector element into'a said opening in a printing device'forsetting saidsheet element advancing means for an advance of' th'e'sheet element a number of units of advan'ceat' least equal't'o the number of lines oi da'ta on the printing device in theprinting position.-

lioIna printing machine, means for advancing data b'earing printingdevicesin succession to a printing position, means' for intermittently advancing a sheet element at the printing position, printing mechanism for effecting a'printii'ig on said sheet element from printing devices of the saidsuccErssion-eaeh printingdevice having an indication thereon indicative by its-position on the printing deviceof the number of lines oi data contained-thereon; a plurality of selector elements-inpositions for coaction each with 'a sai'd indic'ationina: different positionon a printing'tdevioe at the printing positon, and meansresponsive to a said coaction ofaselector element With a said indication ona -printing -device for setting said sheet-element advancing means for aid-advance of thesheeta number of units'of advance corresponding to thenumber of linesof data onthe'printing-device at theprinting position.-

lzpInra printing machine having means for printing fromdata-bearing printing devices which areadvanced insuccessionto the printing means, the combination therewith of means operative prior to eachprinting by the printing means for advancing a-sheet element which is to be printed-upon a number of'units of advance varyingwitlr'variation of the number of linesof data on the printing'device last printed from, said sheet element advancing means including a plurality of depressible-selector elements: depressi-ble into engagement with the printing-device at the 'prin-tingimeans; means responsive only toa predetermined amount of depression ofasaid selector element forsettingthe sheet element advancingmeans' for a selected number of units of advance of the sheet' element following a: printing from the printing device which is at'the printing means, eachlprintingi device having. an opening thereiri iridicative by its position n. the 'printing device of the number of lines of data thereon, and said opening in each printing device arriving at the printing means registering, according to its position, with a particular one of said selector elements, whereby that element, upon depression, finds the said opening and is depressed further than the other selector elements thereby to effeet the said setting of the sheet element advancing means.

13. In a printing machine having means for printing from data-bearing printing devices which are advanced in succession to the printing means, the combination therewith of means operative prior to each printing by the printing means for advancing a sheet element which is to .be printed upon a number of units of advance varying with variation of the number of lines of data on the printing device last printed from, said sheet element advancing means comprising a feed roll and mechanism operative selectively for rotating the feed roll one predetermined fraction of a rotation when the printing device last printed from has no data thereon and for rotating the feed roll two of said fractions of a rotation when a said printing device has one line of data thereon and increasing amounts with increase of the number of lines of data on the printing device at the printing means, each printing device having an indication thereon indicative by its position on the device of the number of said predetermined fractions of a rotation of the feed roll which should follow a printing from each printing device, and said mechanism including selective means responsive to a said indication on the device at the printing means.

14. In a printing machine having means for printing from data-bearing printing devices which are advanced in succession to the printing means, the combination therewith of means operative prior to each printing by the printing means for advancing a sheet element which is to be printed upon a number of units of advance varying with variation of the number of lines of data on the printing device last printed from, said sheet element advancing means including depressible selector elements operative on the printing device at the printing means, and each printing device having an opening therein indicative by its position on the printing device of the number of lines of data contained thereon and adapted to register with some one of said selector elements whereby that element finds said opening when depressed and is depressed more than the other elements, means for depressing said elements during each printing operation of the printing means, and means responsive to the greater depression of that selector element which finds an indicator opening in the printing device for setting the sheet element advancing means for an advance of the sheet element a number of units of advance corresponding to the indicated number of lines of data on the printing device at the printing means.

15. In a printing machine having means for printing from data-bearing printing devices which are advanced in succession to the printing means, the combination therewith of means operative prior to each printing by the printing means for advancing a sheet element which is to be printed upon a number of units of advance varying with variation of the number of lines of data on the printing device last printed from, each printing device having an indication thereon indicative by its position on the device of the number of units of advance of the said sheet element which properly should follow a printing from that printing device, and said sheet element advancing means including selector elements operative on the printing device at the printing position for finding the said indication of the particular printing device which is at the printing position, and means responsive to that one of the selector elements which finds the indication on the printing device for setting the sheet element advancing means for an advance of the sheet element the number of units of advance indicated as proper following a printing from that particular printing device.

16. In a printing machine having means for printing from data-lbearing printing devices which are advanced in succession to the printing means, the combination therewith of means operative prior to each printing by the printing means for advancing a sheet element which is to be printed upon a number of units of advance varying with variation of the number of lines of data on the printing device last printed from, each printing device having an indication thereon indicative by its position on the device of the number of units of advance of the said sheet element which properly should follow a printing from that printing device, and said sheet element advancing means including selector elements for finding the indication on the printing device which is at the printing mechanism, a member rotatable in one direction to set the sheet element advancing means and rotatable in the other direction to advance the sheet element a selected number of units of advance, and means responsive to that one of the selector devices which finds the said indication on the printing device at the printing means for determining the amount said rotatable member shall be rotated in the setting direction thereby to select the number of units of advance the sheet element shall be advanced following a printing from the particular printing device.

HARMON P. ELLIOTT.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,921,511 Elliott Aug. 8, 1933 1,982,380 Gollwitzer Nov. 27, 1934 2,002,737 Hartley May 28, 1935 2,002,772 Gollwitzer May 28, 1935 2,002,773 Gollwitzer May 28, 1935 2,009,618 Hubbard July 30, 1935 2,095,292 Sherman Oct. 12, 1937 2,160,916 Sherman June 6, 1939 2,206,743 Elliott July 2, 1940 2,213,490 Elliott Sept. 3, 1940 2,248,403 Elliott July 8, 1941 

